Radiological and salinity relationships in the water at Bikini Atoll

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Abstract
The circulation in Bikini Lagoon during the post‐Baker Day period is deduced from the distribution of salinity and radioactivity. The use of the distribution of radioactivity as a method of determining the circulation is compared with other methods. The presence of radioactivity in the waters of the Lagoon as a result of the explosion presented a unique opportunity to obtain a partial evaluation of the radioactive tracer technique in problems of hydrography.Figures showing a circulation scheme and the distribution of salinity and radioactivity are presented for the third, fourth, and fifth day after the underwater explosion. The circulation at this time was found to be abnormal due mainly to the unusual weather conditions. It has therefore been discussed with particular reference to the areas of concentration of the radioactive material in view of the possible bearing on studies of the effect of radiological contamination on marine flora and fauna at Bikini.The use of radioactivity in tracing water motions at Bikini gave results which were in general agreement with those obtained by other methods.

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